PLANNING APPEAL ON “EIGER EXTENSION” DISMISSE

Planning appeals against an extension to a property in Broadstairs, that had been dubbed the “Eiger extension” because of its size, have been dismissed.

In total, four appeals were heard at a Public Inquiry, all relating to a three storey rear extension, which has been occupied, and alterations to the front of 15 Granville Road. Two were appealing against the council’s decision to refuse to grant planning permission for the work, while the other two were appealing against enforcement notices served on the property.

Planning permission was originally granted in January 2008 for a change of use to six self contained flats. This included a three storey rear extension, but the work which was carried out on site was not completed in accordance with the approved drawings.

The developers then applied for planning permission for the work that had been carried out, but this was refused by the council on the grounds of the impact on neighbouring properties, the impact on the Conservation Area and the lack of play areas for the development. A second application was then submitted, reducing the amount of development on the site, but the council also refused this. Both appeals against these refusals were dismissed by the Planning Inspector.

Following this, two enforcement notices were then served by the council, one relating to the rear extension and the other concerning the alterations that had been carried out to the front of the property.

The Planning Inspector upheld the enforcement notice relating to the rear extension, although instead of six months, the owners will now have nine months to conform with the extension that the council first approved in 2008. They will also need to treat it with an ageing wash to tone down the colour of the brick and will need to remove the roof terrace.

The second enforcement notice relating to the front of the property was also upheld, but again the owners were given nine months, instead of six months, to carry out the work. Small amendments were also made to the position of the timber posts and to allow the retention of a name stone. The owners will now have to demolish and rebuild parts of the front elevation. They will also have to reinstate the timber windows to conform with the previous appearance of the building. This is because the building’s current appearance, including the insertion of UPVC windows, was judged as being damaging to the character and appearance of the Broadstairs Conservation Area.

Cllr. Iris Johnston, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “I am sure this verdict will come as a relief to the neighbours who have been affected by this work, which has been dubbed the ‘Eiger extension’. One of the key considerations that our planning officers and members of our Planning Committee always look at with any application is the impact on neighbouring properties and the immediate area, which in this case, is a Conservation Area. I hope that now the enforcement notices that the council has had to serve will be complied with, bringing this matter to an end.”

The owners have the right to challenge the Inspector’s decision at the High Court.